Sound lens adjuster



Jan. 9, 1945. T. l. RESS soum) LENS ADJUSTER Filed Sept. 4, 1945 Z5fiVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 9, 1945 SOUND LENS ADJUSTER Thomas I. Bess, Chicago, Ill.,'assignor to De Vry Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation ofIllinois Application September 4, 1943; Serial No. 501,247

3 Claims. (01. 88-24) This invention relates to a sound lens adjusterand has for its principal object the provision of an improvedconstruction of this character which will be highly 'eflicient in useand economical in manufacture.

In the art of sound pictures there is employed in the projecting machinewhat is termed a sound lens.

This lens is mounted in close "proximity .to what is known as a sounddrum. Over the drum and between it and the sound lens is fed the filmhaving thereon the picture and sound track synchronized to the finestdegree of exactness for high standards of performance. Associated withthis sound lens is an exciter lamp.

In sound lens to which I am now and will hereinafter refer to there isprovided i the nose of the lens barrel a relatively narrow and shortelongated slit. In practice this slit lines up with exactjtude with thesound track. If it does otherwise there would result a displeasingdistortion reaching at times a staccato effect.

' vention is shown associated with a motion pic- This lens is usuallyfactory adjusted. By factory adjusted I mean adjusted by the mechanic atthe factory before the projector is put into use.

I It is therefore one of the many objects of this invention to providea. device for adjusting this sound lens at the factory whereby the abovestated objections will be eliminated with the result that upon leavingthe factory the lens, if not tampered with, will have a permanentadjust--,

ment.

Another object of the invention isthe provision of a sound lensadjustment which may be used outside as well as in the'factory for thepurposes hereintofore recited.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsto be herein-after described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawing showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a motion picture apparatusillustrating a sound lens associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a plan view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view taken substantially On line 3-3 ofFig. 6 showing the lens adjuster mounted upon the lens holding block;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the same;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the same; and

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the same.

ture projecting machine with sound equipment. This machine is of astandard makeand in the present instance comprising a sound drum ID, asound lens barrel II, the latter mounted in a. block l2 and removablyconnected thereto by screw elements l3, the block l2 being carried by aframe l2 of the motion picture machine.

' Associated'with this lens barrel II is an exciter lamp 13' arranged ina removable housing II from which the nose i5 of the lens prolects.

Payed over and around the sound drum l0 and between it and the soundlens barrel II is a picture film [6 having the usual and conventionalsound track (not shown).

The nose l5 of the sound lens barrel ll has the usual fine and narrowslit I'I, (Fig. 2) formed therein.

Asbefore stated it is indispensable that this slit be aligned withexactitude with respect to the sound track for high standards ofperformance. To assure this-my invention is mostly concerned.

In this connection I provide an adjuster comprising a top plate I8. Thisplate l8 has formed therein a centrally located opening I9 formedtherein for the reception of the nose [5 of the sound lens barrel II. Insuch position of the lens barrel H the plate I8 bears upon the nose I 5thereof.

Between the plate l8 and the block I2 is a spring washer 20 which bearsagainst the plate l8 and tends to force the same upwardly.

The plate It! provides oppositely arranged ears 20' which receive theshanks 2| of nut bearing bolts 22. These shanks 2| are threaded throughbarrel l l and in which plate 23 there is an opening I 9' similar to theopening I9.

Carried by the bottom plate 23 are pressure screws 25 each having atransverse opening 26 formed therein for the reception of a rod liketool 21 whereby to effect rotation 01' these screws for reasonshereinafter set forth. These screws bear against a washer 33 positionedagainst the bottom of the block l2 (Fig. 3).

Formed on an edge of the bottom plate 23 is an upstanding bifurcated lug28 through which projects the shank 29 of a finger screw 30 threadedinto the block as shown (Fig. 6).

Secured to this lug 29 is one end of a tension spring 3|, the other endof such spring being hooked to the block I2 as at 32.

The adjustment of the lens is effected in the following manner.

The lens barrel II holding screws I3 are removed and loosened to allowrotation as well as longitudinal movement of the lens barrel II.

After the spring washer 20 is mounted in place the plate It ispositioned to embrace the nose of the lens barrel H. The washer 33 isnow mounted to embrace the bottom of the lens barrel II after which theplate 23 is arranged in its place by threading the shanks of the screws22 through the openings of the top plate Ill.

The next operation is to thread the shank of the finger screw in placeand attach the end of the spring 3| to the lens block as at 32.

In assembly the lens barrel II is positioned in the block at a positionthought proper for standard operation. Should it be found that the lensbarrel II is too close'to the sound track the same is lowered bymanipulating the pressure screws 25, bearing the plate I8 against thesides of the nose of the lens barrel II and with the consequent resultofmoving the lens barrel ll downward in the block.

Should it develop that the slit I! is not aligned with the sound tracks,to shift the lens barrel I I anti-clockwise the finger screw 30 isretracted. This results in the rotation of the barrel in the directionstated, it being noted that the spring washer 20 has gripping relationwith the lens barrel I I for this purpose.

To shift the lens barrel II clockwise the screw 30 is projected with theresult that the lens barrel I I with the assistance of the spring 3|will rotate anti-clockwise. Thus an adjustment of a high degree ofexactitude may be made to bring the slit I! of the lens barrel II inexact alignment with the sound tracks of the film. After the adjustmentthe lens barrel II is secured in place by the screws I3.

While I have illustrated and described the pre ferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into eifect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described'my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect-by Letters Patent is:

1. An adjuster for a sound track lens barrel mounted in a supportingblock comprising pressure means for moving the barrel in one directionlongitudinally of the block, a screw element for rotating the barrel inopposite direction with respect to the block, and a structure forsupporting the pressure means and screw element in operative positionwith respect to the block, said structure comprising a pair of plates,one embracing the top portion of the barrel and the other abutting thebottom thereof, and means for clamping said plates in their respectivepositions with respect to the barrel.

2. An adjuster for, a sound track lens barrel mounted in a supportingblock comprising pressure means for moving the barrel in one directionlongitudinally of the block, a screw element for rotating the barrel inopposite direction with respect to'the block, and a structure forsupporting the pressure means and screw element in operative positionwith respect to the block, said structure comprising a pair of plates,one embracing the top portion of the barrel and the other abutting thebottom thereof, and means for clamping said plates in their respectivepositions with respect to the barrel, said pressure means and screwelement being carried by one of said plates. 7

3. An adjuster for a sound track lens barrel mounted in a supportingblock comprising pressure means for moving the barrel in one directionlongitudinally of the block, a screw element for rotating the barrel inopposite direction with respect to the block, and a structure forsupporting the pressure means and screw element in operative positionwith respect to the block, said structure comprising a pair of plates,one embracing the top portion of the barrel and the other abutting thebottomwthereof, a spring member having gripping engagement with thebarrel, and means for clamping said plates in their respective positionswith respect to the barrel with the spring member gripping said barrel.

THOMAS I. RESS.

